a rural, artistic village
The Municipality of Schijndel is aspiring to improve the quality of the public space in the core of the village. The increased traffic and parking problems call for a comprehensive vision on the public space of the entire village core. In this, the municipality has made a significant choice to pedestrianise the centre of Schijndel and to transform it into a habitable area. The introduction of a new pavilion designed by Winny Maas of MVRDV will strengthen the centrally situated square; at the market. This will add a new schedule to the most important square of the core, which currently accommodates the weekly market and many other events.
In 2007 MTD landschapsarchitecten was commissioned by the Municipality of Schijndel to draw up a redevelopment plan for the market, the surroundings of the Glass Farmhouse and for the two most important shopping streets of the core.

The first strategic aim of the redevelopment plan was to turn the market into a pedestrianised zone and to resolve the parking schedule in the direct vicinity of the square. These then become accessible by means of shortcuts, the so-called alleyways, which link up with the village centre. The square was then given a layout with as few unnecessary obstacles as possible, so that a maximum amount of space could be provided for the weekly market and various other events. Aside from the weekly market and events being of vital importance for Schijndel, it also has regional significance.
The second strategic aim of the redevelopment plan was to enhance the rural, village-like identity of Schijndel. The Glass Farmhouse is a contemporary reference to the rural and agricultural character of the core and provides space for a new commercial schedule at the market. It is a scale model of a typical Schijndel farmhouse enlarged 1.8 times. The layout of the surrounding terrain, the plot, likewise enhances this by its oversized scale.
The rural character of the core is also strengthened with the choice of materials. A large part of the refurbished square has been laid with characteristic granite cobble stones in a rather special fan shape, contained by a very broad band of natural stone. In the adjoining high street the choice was made for a runner strip in used baked clinkers and the rebates along the façades in a mottled natural stone paving.
The informal character of the core is strengthened by the siting of trees at the market and in the high street, in an ostensibly 'random' fashion in the profile. At a number of locations espalier trees have been introduced complementing the architecture of the façades. For the market we opted to plant huge and heavy, biologically cultivated trees.
Schijndel gladly presents itself as an artistic village. In order to augment this character, works of art have been introduced at a number of strategic places in the public space of the centre.